Sickle Cell Disease Treatment

Haemoglobin plays an important role by carrying oxygen and supplies it to whole parts of the body. When some genetic changes occur in the red blood cells then this turns RBCs into hard, sticky and sickle-shaped. These damaged cells get clumped in the blood vessels and this blocks the blood flow. This blockage causes pain, infection, anemia and it also damages other main organs. It is called SCD and sickle cell disease management prevents as well as treats its pain.

According to research, it is shown that approx., 100000 individuals are experiencing such disorder. It is also considered as the inherited blood disorder and many patients are looking for the treatment. Here you will get to know about this blood disorder and how it can be treated.

Symptoms

The SCD has some common symptoms and these are as follows:-

• Damages the tissues and cause pain in your body parts, such as legs, chest, arms and back. This pain may get worse.
• An individual may experience fussiness and irritability.
• Sickle cells cause yellow-colored eyes and skin.
• There is a risk for getting frequent infections because SCD weakens your immune system.
• It can be life-threatening because the flow of the oxygen gets blocked. 
• Painful swelling in hands and feet is the first symptom which can be seen in babies. It is cause due to blockage in the blood vessels.
• It may cause erectile dysfunction and pain in the penis due to blocked blood vessels.

Causes

There are various reasons to cause SCD and these are as follows:-

• If parents are sickle cell disease carrier. Then their children can carry each set from each parent.
• Children born with this disease because of defective genes.

Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease

Doctors will treat SCD by considering your age, medical condition and its symptoms. It can be done in the following way:-

1. Diagnosis

SCD can be detected by performing the following tests:-

• Blood test
• Routine screening of newborn babies before birth
• Ultrasound to check risk stroke in unborn baby 

2. Treatment

Sickle cell disorder cause pain and it can be managed and treated its symptoms and it includes:-

3. Medications

There are some medicines which can reduce pain and its severe symptoms, these are mentioned below:-

1. L-glutamine
2. Crizanlizumab
3. Voxelotor
4. Hydroxyurea
5. Other pain alleviating medicines

4. Gene Therapy

There are two types of gene therapies; Lovotibeglogene autotemcel and exagamglogene autotemcel. These are approved for treating sickle cell disease.. These can be used to treat patients who are above 12 years.

4. Bone Marrow Transplant

During this procedure healthy cells are taken from a donor who can be your parents and then transfer to another person. It is also called stem cell transplant which is mostly done in severe cases of SCD in children.

6. Transfusions

It includes:-

7. RBC transfusions –

It helps to increase the number of red blood cells in the body.

8. Acute transfusions –

It is helpful in treating acute anemia and this transfusion also treats organ failure, acute chest syndrome and strokes.

SCD patients should drink enough water to prevent pain and sometimes, intravenous fluid may be required.

Risks of SCD Treatment

It can affect and damage various main organs of the body and these are mentioned below:-

• Eye damage
• Multiple organ failure
• Risk of infection and fever
• Painful swelling of feet and hands
• Gallstones
• Blood clots
• Damage bone tissue
• Anemia 

What can Trigger Sickle Cell Disease?

There are some lifestyle that can trigger SCD:-

• Strenuous physical activities 
• Cold weather
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Smoking
• Swimming in cold water
• High altitude
• Nasal congestion medicine may narrow down the blood vessels.